Cisco juvenile curfew to be re-evaluated after several parents' objections

CISCO — A juvenile curfew ordinance that has been in the works for several months was taken “back to the drawing board” after Monday’s City Council meeting, a city official said Tuesday.

Tammy Osborne, municipal court clerk and city secretary, said objections were raised by parents of home-schooled children at two meetings — the one Monday night and one held April 8.

“I think they want to see some revisions,” Osborne said.

The proposed curfew would make it illegal, in many instances, for juveniles to be out of the home from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight to 6 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. It would also make it illegal for schoolchildren to be out of school from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays.

Though no objections were raised to the nighttime portion of the proposed ordinance, several parents opposed the daytime portion, Osborne said.

“They don’t feel like every child should adhere to that portion,” she said.

The agenda item was tabled at the April 8 meeting. No votes were taken or motions made at Monday night’s meeting.

“I imagine what they will do is go back to the ordinance and re-evaluate the daytime portion,” Osborne said.

Exemptions in the proposal include: If a child is with a parent or guardian, running a “legitimate errand,” out for purposes of employment, or practicing First Amendment rights at a parade or demonstration.

Anson, Bangs, Ranger, Rotan, Coleman, Comanche, Hamlin, Stamford, Clyde, Ballinger and Brown County have instituted similar curfews in the past.

Cisco officials talked with their counterparts in Albany, De Leon and Dublin while drafting its proposal, it was previously reported.

Osborne said she did not know whether the curfew would be on the City Council agenda at its May 13 meeting.